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Embassy Marks World AIDS Day

December 4, 2006

Dr. Michelle L. Jones, Public Affairs Officer

U.S. Ambassador Roy L. Austin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, and Public Affairs Officer Michelle Jones toured the Queen’s Park Counseling Center in honor of World AIDS Day.  Ambassador Austin spoke on “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise.”  To show the importance of knowing one’s HIV/AIDS status, Dr. Fitzpatrick and Dr. Jones were both administered a blood test for HIV/AIDS. 

“Accountability” is the theme for World AIDS Day 2006.  Knowing HIV status has two vital benefits: firstly, if a person is HIV-infected, s/he can take necessary steps immediately.  These steps can prolong life for many years.  Secondly, knowing that one is HIV infected allows necessary precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of HIV to others.

The Caribbean is the second most-affected region in the world after Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated HIV prevalence of 1.6%.  In Trinidad and Tobago national HIV prevalence is estimated at 2.6%, with young women particularly affected.  Girls 15-19 years of age are six times as likely to be infected with HIV as their male counterparts. 

World AIDS Day was first declared by the World Health Organization and the UN General Assembly in 1988.  Since then, it has progressively become one of the most successful “international days” for raising awareness on a global issue. 

Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, CDC Director